City of York Council is the latest organisation to implement the asa’s National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) throughout its pools.

The new five-year deal formalises the relationship with the national governing body and sees them working in partnership until 2013.

The agreement to use the NPTS, a template for learn to swim schemes, means the centres will use the highest quality syllabus and awards system.  The plan is a comprehensive and progressive teaching programme based upon sound technical and educational principles.

The National Plan will run alongside the asa Kellogg’s Awards Scheme and looks set to benefit more than 1,400 children and adults that currently access swimming lessons across the two centres – Yearsley Pool and Edmund Wilson Pool.

As part of the deal the council will receive additional support and advice from the asa’s Business Team and will work towards Aquamark accreditation – the asa’s quality seal of approval for leisure providers.

The Council have been using the National Plan for their Swim Scheme ‘SWIM YORK’ for the past twelve months.  All teachers are Level 2 accredited and enjoy attending continuing professional development seminars at Edmund Wilson Pool.

Operations Manager Andy Laslett believes the new deal will greatly improve the quality of swimming lessons at both pools.

“The partnership with the asa Kellogg’s Awards and the National Plan for Teaching Swimming works very well for us as they have helped us to achieve a high standard for our swimming lesson scheme ‘SWIM YORK’, which is nationally recognised,” he said.

“The National Plan for Teaching Swimming gives good direction for all our teachers and pupils alike, helping them to enjoy swimming in a fun environment whilst learning and developing key skills which they will carry with them through their lives.”

The asa Business Team Manager Mandy Mason welcomes the City of York Council’s Sport and Active Leisure Department on board.

'The asa is committed to providing our partners with the support they need to deliver quality learn to swim programmes,” she said.  “We are pleased to welcome City of York Council’s Swim Scheme and our Business Team will be working closely with them to ensure they build on their current success whilst using the National Plan for Teaching Swimming and the asa Kellogg's Awards Scheme.'

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For more information contact the asa PR Assistant Claire Freeman on 01509 632238 or email claire.freeman@swimming.org

The asa is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The asa supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The asa aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

The asa Kellogg’s Awards Scheme is the most successful awards scheme in British sport and issues around two million awards every year to swimmers all around the world.

For more information about the asa Awards please see www.swimming.org